Display device



J. T. BRUBAKER DISPLAY DEVICE Feb. 12, 1935.

Filed Aug. 16, 1953 lNVENTOR WITNESSES Patented Feb. 12, 1935.

* UNITED V -STATES- PATENT oFFrcE 7 DISPLAY DEVICE John T. Brubaker, Wilkinsburg, Pa. Application August 16, 1933, Serial No. 685,352

.3 Claims. (o1.211--1 My invention relates to display devices, and particularly to such devices as are adapted for the display of pickles, olives and similar products.

Whenever articles, such as pickles or olives, are displayed for sale they are ordinarily allowed to remain in the liquid that is employed for preserving them, with the result that the display is not very effectivebecause the pickles, for example, are not clearly visible in the more or less colored vinegar, brineor other preserving liquid. It has not heretofore been desirable to display pickles outof the liquid for the reason that the outer surfaces of the pickles dry rather quickly and become rather unsightly; The display of pickles in this condition does not present an inviting appearance that would increase their sales.

In accordance with the present invention I provide a display device by means of which pickles or olives may be displayed in such manner that the outer surfaces thereof may continuously present an attractive appearance by periodically moistening the surfaces, as, for example, by immersing them in their preserving liquid; For this purpose a vertically movable tray for supporting the pickles maybe lowered into the liquid and returned to its upper or display position as by means of a spring or similar device. If desired the tray may be retained in its lower position with the pickles thereon immersed in the liquid.

The details of my invention will be described in connection with theaccompanying drawing,

'in which Fig. l is a view in vertical section of a' preferred form of my display device; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in plan and partially in transverse section of the, display device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view partially in elevation and partially in vertical section of a plurality of display devices adapted for mechanical operation; Fig. 4 is a plan View of the apparatus of Fig. 3 Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section of a modified form of display device.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a cy-' lindrical container 1 for liquid is-provided at the top thereof with an outwardly flaring portion 2 that is preferably of such inclination that pickles will not remain thereon, unless otherwise supported. In other words, the inclination of the flaring portion 2 is greater than the angle of repose of the pickles. e

A vertically movable tray 3 for supporting pickles thereon within the container 1 is supported by a' member 4 of substantially inverted U-shape, the outer vertical arm of which extends through an opening 5 in a tubular member 6 and is provided at the bottom end thereof with a circular enlargement '7 which bears upon the upper end of a coil spring 8. The latter is of sufiicient strength to return thetray 3 with the pickles thereon to a position adjacent the upper end of the container 1.

It is desirable that the tray, 3 and the support ing means therefor, including the U-shaped member 4, be secured in certain of its adjustedpositions and I have shown by way of example a sim-' ple latch mechanism for detachably securing the tray 3 in desired adjusted vertical positions. The outer arm of the member 4 is provided with recesses or notches 10 which cooperate with a spring-pressed pivoted latch 11 to retain the member 4 in certain positions to which it may be. adjusted manually or returned by the spring 8.

. Extending around the exterior of the container 1 is a series of vertical tubes 12 which may be, if desired, integral with the container 1 or may be of separate members secured theretoin any suitable manner. Each of these tubes 12 is providedat the bottom with an opening 13 extending through the side wall of the container 1 and communicating with the interior of the container. The upper end of each of the tubes 12 is open so that when the tray 3 descends and operates as a plunger within the container 1 liquid is forced through the openings 13 and upwardly within the tubes 12 to spray or sprinkle the surfaces of any pickles that may be above the surface of the liquid. The streams of liquid emerging from the tubes 12 are deflected inwardly by a slightly overhanging portion 14 ofthe flaring portion 2.

'The operation of the displaydevice shown in Figs. 1 and 2Will be apparent from the foregoing description. When the tray 3 occupies its uppermost position adjacent the upper end of the cone tainer 1, indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1,'it is provided with pickles in such quantityrthat they will overflow the tray 3 and will. be supported at least in part by the flaring portion 2,- as indicated. When it is desired to wet the. surfaces of the pickles the member 4 is depressedby olasping a projection 15 on themember 4 and a lever 16 for thelatch 11 as between the thumb and a finger. The latch ll releases the member 4 and pressure on the projection 15 operates to lower the tray within the container whereupon the pickles that rest upon the flaring portion 2 fall into the container and move downward with the tray 3.

The downward movement of the tray 3 causes the latter to operate as a plunger or piston and liquid is forced through the openings 13 and caused to flow through the upper ends of the tubes 12 to wet the surfaces of any pickles that are not fully immersed in the liquid The lower pickles will, however, be immersed within the liquid and the tray 3 with the pickles thereon, which has been lowered, for example, to the positionin' which it is shown, Fig. 1, may be at'once returned to its normal'position adjacent the top of the container. As the tray approaches its up :permost position the excess pickles thereon will roll outwardly on the flaring portion 2 until they reach their angle of repose whereupon the dis- 7 play device will again have the appearance of a container that is filled with wet glistening pickles;

The operation described above may repeated as often as desired, such, for example, as during the times that an attendant may jacent the displaydevice. When it is. not desired to display the pickles in the device" the tray 3 may be actuated to its lowermost position-indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1 and retained therein by the latch 11 to immerse'all'of' the pickles thereon in theliquid within the container. Such position of the'tray is desirable, for example, duringithe closing hours of a store in which the display device isused.

Reference may now be had to the apparatus shownin'Figs. '3, 4 and 5 in which containers '1,

. substantially similar to those of Figs. 1 and 2,

may be mounted in a row for displaying various kinds and'sizes of pickles and olives. The trays 3 therein are adapted to be raised andlowered by suitable mechanical means,- such, foriexample, as anelectri'c motor- 18. The motor-is connected by means of a clutch: 19' to a horizontal drive shaft 20 having cranks 21,- e'ach of which is connected by a lin'k 22 toa U-shapedarm 23'that is connected tothe tray 3 of the corresponding container 1. Themotor--18 maybe caused to operate thetrays to immerse the pickles periodically, as by means of an intermittently operable switch, or the control may be manual as by means of a push-button switch.

If desired the shaft 20 may be operated manually by a crank 24' inwhich case the clutch 17 will be disengagedby means of an operating handle25. l 1

Reference may now be had to th e'modifled form of display deviceshown in Fig. 6. '1 pro vide an outer container 27 of glass which has at its upper end and preferably integral therewith an outwardly flaring portion 28 similarito that of 7 n The bottom of. the container 2'7 is provided with-a central portheflaring portion 201 Fig. 1.

tion or boss 29 which serves to center a cylindrical shell 30, the walls ofwhich are spacedfrom the sides of the container 27. Within the shell 30 is mounted a vertical post 31 having a radial flange 32" at the bottom thereof for supporting it in upright position.

V Withinthe shell 30 andtelesco ingwith the vertical post 31 is a tubular member 34' for enclosing a spring 35 that is adapted to be com-L pressed between a knob 36 at the 'upper end of the tube 34 and the upper end'of the vertical post 31. The member *34carries a tray .37'that is provided with perforations 38 for permitting the flow of liquid therethrough when the tray 3'7 descends in the liquid;

7 In" the use of the display device of Fig. 6 the space between the walls of the transparent container 2'7 and the walls of the shell 3 is filled with pickles that are immersed in liquidythe vertically movable tray.

level of the latter being adjacent the upper end of the shell 30. In addition, the tray 37 is provided with a larger quantity of pickles than will be supported thereon when the tray I is in an upper position and the pickles are not restrained by the side walls of the shell 30, but may flow outwardly onto the flaring portion 28.

When the knob 36 is depressed and the tray 3'? pushed downward from its illustrated upper position, thepickles supported thereon are'immersed in the liquid and those onthe outwardly flaring portion 28 fall into the interior of the shell 30 i and are also immersed. The tray 37 is returned to its upper position by the spring 35. No latching pleasing appearance and thereby increase the sales thereof. By-reason of the construction and arrangement of the display device the latter appears to be filled with fresh pickles, although the quantity of pickles may be small relative to the capacity of the display device.

The provision of the outwardly flaring portion having an inclination that is greater than the angles of repose of'the pickles increases the size of the body of pickles on-display by increasing the area. thereof while at the same time per,-

mitting wetting of these pickles in the same.

manner as if they were'directly supported by the In the display device having double or telescoping walls the appearance of a container filled with pickles is increased by the placing of pickles to fill the space between the walls of the telescoping containers to present the appearance of a container that is filled to overflowing.

I claim:

1. A display device comprising a container for liquid, a tray vertically movable in said container for immersing articles thereon in said liquid, a

spring for returning said tray to its upper position, and means for detachably securing said tray 7 in an adjusted position. V e V 2. A display device for pickles comprising a container for liquid for said pickles, a member for supporting pickles thereon and being movable in. said container to serve as a plunger therein, and

means for spraying'liquidon said pickles when said member is moved downwardly to place said liquid under pressure said' means comprising openings adjacentthe top of said container and communicating with the bottom thereof.

3. A display device for pickles comprising a container for liquid for said pickles, a member for supporting pickles thereon and being movable.

in said container to serve as a plunger therein,

and'means for spraying liquid on said pickles when said member is moved downwardly to place said liquid under pressure, said means comprising a plurality of passageways communicating with the bottom of said container and extending to points adjacent the top thereof.

JOHN T. BRUBAKER. 

